King County enacts summertime burn restriction

Dry weather fuels ban

In concert with Pierce County, Kitsap County, Mason County and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, King County called a Phase 1 burn ban.

The ban started 8 a.m. July 17 and will run through the remainder of the summer.

Forest and yard-debris burning is not allowed under a Phase 1 ban. The burn bans do not apply to federal forests or national parks, although these jurisdictions may have similar restrictions in effect.

A Phase 1 burn ban allows recreational campfires in approved fire pits. King, Kitsap, Mason, and Pierce Counties are restricting the size and location of recreational campfires. Campfires are allowed if located on private land with the landowner’s permission and if built in an approved manner. These fires must:

• Be built in a metal or concrete fire pit, such as those typically found in designated campgrounds

• Grow no larger than three feet across

• Be located in a clear spot free from any vegetation for at least 10 feet in a horizontal direction, including a 20-foot vertical clearance from overhanging branches

• Be attended at all times by an alert individual with immediate access to a shovel and either five gallons of water or a connected and charged water hose

King County Fire Marshal John Klopfenstein, in announcing the burn ban stated, “The moisture level in our forests is constantly measured to determine the fire hazard level.

“This ban will be in effect throughout the summer until we receive a substantial level of sustained rain.”

For more information on local fire restrictions, the public can call the King County Fire Marshal Division at 206-296-6675 or 1-800-323-BURN, or Paula Adams, DDES Public Information and Records Officer at 206-296-6682.

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